Watch



Patented Dec. 5, 1944 WATCH Albert J. Hasselman, La sane; and Elmer H. Beiser, Peru, Ill., assign'ors to. General Time; Instruments Corporation, New-York; N. Y., a

corporation of Delaware Application October 4,1943, Serial No. 504,870

Claims.

The present invention relates in general to watches and more particularly to watch cases and the manner of holding the movement in the case. The main object of the invention is to provide a two piece watch case of simple construction and to provide simple and practical means for holding the watch movement therein.

According to one feature of the invention the watch case comprises only a body portion and a back cover plate, the usual bezel forming an integral part of the body.

Another feature of the invention relates to the manner of centering the movement within the body when same is inserted therein.

. A further feature of the invention lies in the means for retainin the movement within the body.

Another feature of the invention is the manner in, which the back cover is held onto the case body.

' The above and other objects and features of the, invention not specifically mentioned and the construction of a preferred embodiment thereof will best be understood from a perusal of the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawing comprising Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, in which Fig. l is a plan view of the Watch of the present invention with the back cover removed and with a portion of the back movement plate and bridge broken away to expose the parts underneath;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the watch with the back cover in position taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the movement centering bracket; and

Fig. 4 is a cross-section detail showing the manner in which the back cover is held in the case.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the watch movement may be of any well-known construction and a showing thereof has for the most part been omitted in order to simplify the drawing.

The watch case comprises a main case body member made up of a center band member I having a forwardly and inwardly directed flange terminating in a bezel or rim 2 which surrounds the front sight opening.

The case is closed by means of the back cover 3 which is arranged to snap into position on the case member I. As shown in Fig. 4 the back cover 3 is provided with a projecting portion 4, the outer corner of which is slightly rounded oif so that the circular flange 4 may be easily inserted into the back opening. .As the back cover is pressed into place it is bowed slightly and the resilience of the cover holds it securely in place on the case I with the projecting portion 5 abutting against the member I in. order to properly position the cover.

The case member I. is provided with the pendant. head I5 which. is; inserted through a. hole in the center band member with shoulders on the pendant headabutting against the inner surface of this member. The pendant head is then staked or otherwise secured in place. This pendant head is provided with a central bore I6 through which extends the wind and set stem I]. This stem is provided with a crown I9' which may be of metal or plastic, the crown being provided with an insert I8 of metal. This insert has a center bore adapted to receive the end of the stem I'I.

The stem I1 is further provided with a section 20 of square cross section which portion of the stem engages a squared hole in the wind and set pinion 21. The outer end of stem I! is provided with a groove 2| adapted to be engaged by the usual shipper (not shown).

The pendant head is also provided with a bow 22 sprung into holes on either side of the pendant head I5.

The watch movement comprises the two parallel movement plates 8 and 9 held in spaced parallel relationship by means of pillars I0 and screws I3. The watch movement itself has not been shown since this may be of any well-known construction.

Secured to the front movement plate 8 is the usual dial plate and dial 1. The crystal 6 is arranged to abut against the bezel or rim 2 of case member I.

The movement unit is provided with a wind and set pinion bridge 23 shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. This bridge comprises a plate having an extension 29 arranged to fit into a slot or notch in the back plate 9 and having two projections 24 arranged to fit into notches in the front plate 8. This securely holds the bridge in position between the two movement plates.

The bridge is also provided with two up-turned projections or wings 26 which are adapted to embrace the inwardly extending portion of pendant head I5 When the movement unit is assembled in the case. The bridge is provided with a recess or cut out portion 25 which engages a groove in the wind and set pinion 21, thereby holding this pinion in proper position.

The back plate 9 is provided with three spring ing the ends of the spring clips H to grip or dig into the inner surface of the center band member l and force the movement unit forward,

- clamping the crystal 6 between the dial plate 1' and the bezel or rim 2 of thecase body I.

The back cover 3 is then snapped into place and V the stem IT with the attached crown I9 is inserted through the bore in the pendant head in order to complete the assembly of the watch.

From the foregoing it is apparent that we, have provided a relatively simple and inexpensive twopiece watch case with novel means for properly locating the watch movement within the case and retaining it in position.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it will be apparent that modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1

1. In a watch, a case member, a pendant head secured to said case member and having an inwardly extending portion, a movement including two parallel spaced movement plates, and a member attached to said movement plates having two extending wings adapted to closely embrace the inwardly extending portion of said pendant head to properly locate the movement Within the case member.

2. In a. watch, a case body comprising a center band having a front opening and a back opening, a pendant head'extending through said band and having a portion projecting inwardly toward the center of said band. a movement unit inserted through said back opening, and means on said movement unit for engaging said projecting poition of said pendant head to properly'locate said movement unit within said case body.

3. In a watch, a case comprising a center band member, a pendant head secured to said member having a portion projecting inwardly toward the center of said band, a movement unit including two parallel spaced movement plates, 'a wind and set pinion, a bridge attached to said movement plates and having means for rotatably supporting said pinion, and two wings extending from said bridge for embracing said inwardly extending pendant head portion to properly locate said movement unit within said case.

4. In a watch, a case comprising a center band opening, means on said movement unit for embracing the projecting portion of said pendant head to properly locate said movement unit in said case, and a plurality of clips on said movement unit adapted to grip the inner surface of said center band member to securely hold said movement unit and crystal in position with said crystal clamped between said movement unit and the edge surface of said front opening.

5. In a. watch, a case comprising a center band member having inwardly extending flanges at each side thereof forming edge surfaces surrounding front and back openings, a crystal and a movement unit inserted through said back opening, a plurality of clips on said movement unit for gripping the inner surface of said center band member to securely hold said unit and crystal in position with said crystal clamped between said unit and said front edge surface, and a back cover plate having a cylindrical rim adapted to fit into said back opening and frictionally held in place by the resilience of said plate.

ALBERT J. HASSELMAN. ELMER H. BEISER. 

